Family, Friends, Fans Remember Joan Rivers As Investigation Widens

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- This weekend family, fans, and celebrities will gather in New York to honor a comic legend.

Joan Rivers' funeral will come as the investigation into her death widens, CBS 2's Janelle Burrell reported.

"I come from the same neighborhood she was born in," Bob Nemser said.

Tributes continued on Saturday outside of Rivers' Upper East Side apartment, as preparations were finalized for her funeral on Sunday.

In preparation for her funeral, the NYPD has set up barriers outside of Temple Emanuel and up and down 5^th Avenue as they are expecting a large crowd.

Rivers' family was inside her apartment, preparing for what will be an emotional funeral service.

They held hands as they said goodbye as they followed her casket to a hearse outside of the Campbell Funeral Home.

Rivers' body was then taken to a crematorium in New Jersey, CBS 2's Matt Kozar reported.

The flowers and cards outside her home keep piling up as fans honor the comedic legend.

Joseph Smith from Greenpoint, Brooklyn told CBS 2 that he loved her style.

"It's a person you're never going to forget," he said.

College intern Allie Horton met Rivers a book signing.

"I figured at a book signing, she'd sign the book, pass it on, thanks for coming.  No, she spent a few minutes with each person.  I waited two hours to talk to her, and it was definitely worth it," she said.

The service will celebrate the life of the comedic genius, a woman known and loved for her spunk, her sharp tongue, and her passion for life.

Many across the city were also remembering the 81-year-old for her generosity.

For the past 25 years Rivers dedicated her voice, celebrity, and money to 'God's Love We Deliver' a city based non-profit that provides meals to people too sick to cook for themselves.

"She'd be in there packing up the food, or making the bags, or packing the truck, she didn't care, 'God's Love We Deliver, President and CEO, Karen Pearl said.

While her friends say Rivers lived a full life, they also believe that she had so much more to give.

It all came to a halt last week when Rivers went into cardiac arrest while undergoing what was supposed to be a routine diagnostic procedure at Yorkville Endoscopy. The clinic is now under investigation by the state's health department.

"At these surgical outpatient centers, generally surgical outpatient procedures carry a very low risk.  What's important for people to know is that when you have a cardiac arrest, your risk of surviving that is very low," Cardiologist Dr. Tara Narula said.

Rivers talked about her mortality in her reality show with her daughter.

"I've had a great life, an amazing life, if I died this morning nobody would say 'so young!'" she said.

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